脕guilas beaches: Playa de Levante

The Playa de Levante lies between the marina and the main harbour in Águilas

The Playa de Levante in Águilas is a 450-metre-long strip of sand which lies alongside the main road along the seafront to the east of the headland on which the castle stands, the Paseo de Parra. At the western end is the main port and at the eastern end is the smaller marina.

The beach boasts a Blue Flag for the quality of service provided, but of all of the major beaches in the centre of the town this is arguably the least attractive due purely to its urban location: for the main part the beach is only ten metres wide, and backs onto the wall underneath the busy road above.The beach is lined with residential apartments, shops and restaurants, so is very much an urban beach, but the construction of the town above it limits its depth and it is therefore a very thin strip of beach, although obviously very convenient for those in the apartments opposite.

This feel is added to by the difficulty of parking alongside due to the very limited spaces available, the best option being to leave the car in the residential streets at the eastern end of the beach.

All of this is not to say that Playa de Levante is without its attractions, though. Its central location is one of them, and of course most of the shops, bars and restaurants of central Águilas are within a short walk in the town centre. The water is as clear as throughout the coastline of the municipality, and bathing conditions are generally good.

The beach also has splendid views of the castle and is extremely popular with evening bathers from the apartments opposite.

In addition, the range of facilities and services includes access by ramp and walkway apart from the steps which run down from the road above and a lifeguard and first aid point which is manned all day every day in summer and on a limited basis during December, January, June, Easter and Carnival week. There are also foot showers and at the two marinas at either end boats and canoes can be hired, and in the summer a small beach bar is open.

Those desiring a larger more open style of beachhave plenty to choose from, within a short walk and there are lots of wild, sandy coves outside of the main urban area.